turnsole
[ turn-sohl ]
/ ˈtɜrnˌsoʊl /
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noun
any of several plants regarded as turning with the movement of the sun.
a European plant, Chrozophora tinctoria, of the spurge family, yielding a purple dye.
the purple dye prepared from this plant; litmus.
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Origin of turnsole
1325–75; Middle English turnesole<Middle French tournesol the dye <Italian tornasole the plant, literally, (it) turns (toward the) sun, on the model of Greek hēliotrópionheliotrope
Words nearby turnsole
turnover flap, turn over in one's grave, turnpike, turnround, turn signal, turnsole, turnspit, turnstile, turnstone, turnt, turntable
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for turnsole
The lower part from a was filled with water tinged blue, or rather purple, with the juice of turnsole, or archil.
Experiments and Observations on Different Kinds of Air|Joseph PriestleyHe styles the colouring substance itself cutbear, persio, or turnsole; and distributes the lichens as follows:—1st.
A Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures and Mines|Andrew UreThe lichen which produces archil is subjected to another preparation, to make turnsole (litmus).
A Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures and Mines|Andrew UreA violet tint is given by the tinctures of turnsole and cochineal.
A Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures and Mines|Andrew Ure
British Dictionary definitions for turnsole
turnsole
/ (ˈtɜːnˌsəʊl) /
noun
any of various plants having flowers that are said to turn towards the sun
a euphorbiaceous plant, Croton tinctoria, of the Mediterranean region that yields a purple dye
the dye extracted from this plant
Word Origin for turnsole
C14: from Old French tournesole, from Old Italian tornasole, from tornare to turn + sole sun, from Latin sōl sun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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